State agencies, county and local governments, health plans, provider organizations, and community partners working to improve care for people served by publicly financed health care systems often face a common challenge: strong policy ideas that stall during implementation or lack the support needed to succeed. The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) offers implementation and advisory services that provide tailored assistance across policy development, planning, analysis, execution, and capacity-building.

With more than three decades of experience, CHCS combines a national perspective on Medicaid policy and delivery system innovation with hands-on support to help partners turn ideas into workable strategies. Our expertise spans behavioral health, children’s services, long‑term services and supports, Medicare‑Medicaid integration, value‑based payment, population health, health-related social needs, women’s and maternal health, rural health, workforce development, and more — ensuring partners receive support grounded in real‑world experience and national best practices.

While CHCS’ core work is supported through philanthropic and federal sources, our contracted implementation and advisory services provide partners with timely, customized support to address emerging priorities.

How We Support Your Work

CHCS’ contracted services are designed for partners who need practical support to move policy, program, and organizational priorities into action. We work with organizations seeking clear direction, actionable insights, and structured support, including:

  • Evidence, best practices, and policy analysis to guide strategy
  • Facilitation to align partners, solve problems, and build consensus
  • Member, community, and stakeholder engagement to inform decision‑making
  • Strategic planning and readiness support to move ideas into implementation
  • Technical assistance to help implementation partners succeed
  • Leadership, organizational, and technical capacity-building to strengthen teams

Service Offerings

CHCS offers a range of tailored services to help organizations advance policy, program, and organizational priorities. Our services support partners in moving from understanding and planning to action and long-term sustainability:

A clear understanding of the policy and program landscape — including existing approaches, models, and emerging practices — is essential for informed decision-making. CHCS conducts focused environmental scans to assess how states and local jurisdictions are addressing policy or program challenges, helping partners identify best practices, emerging trends, and actionable insights.

CHCS helps partners translate policy priorities into effective programs. We provide objective analysis of federal, state, and local policy landscapes; assess operational impacts of new regulations; support program design informed by national best practices; and guide implementation through readiness assessments, strategy development, and hands‑on support.

Meaningful engagement with Medicaid members strengthens policy and program design. CHCS helps organizations build and sustain effective partnerships by engaging community partners, elevating lived experience, and translating member input into practical improvements.

Coordinated action and collaborative decision-making are essential for addressing complex challenges. CHCS designs and facilitates convenings that bring stakeholders together to align around shared goals, gather input on policy design, address implementation challenges, and support collaborative, solutions-focused problem-solving.

Effective implementation often requires ongoing support and opportunities for peer learning. CHCS provides tailored technical assistance and facilitates state, provider, and multi-stakeholder learning collaboratives that help organizations strengthen implementation, share promising practices, address common challenges, and accelerate progress toward shared goals.

Clear goals and aligned long-term priorities enable effective action. CHCS facilitates strategic planning at the office, division, and department levels, helping organizations define goals, set actionable objectives, and track progress. We guide the process through facilitated planning sessions, multi-year plan development, and implementation coaching.

Effective service delivery depends on strong internal systems, teams, and processes. CHCS supports agencies with organizational assessment, team alignment, workflow improvement, and change‑management strategies to build capacity and enable sustainable implementation.

Strong leadership and technical skills are critical to effective program delivery and sustained results. CHCS strengthens these capabilities and provides tailored training for individuals, teams, and agencies through programs offered under the National Medicaid Leadership Center.

Partner Snapshots

The partner snapshots below highlight a select sample of CHCS’ work, offering a glimpse into how we work alongside partners to advance meaningful and measurable change.

Connect with CHCS

Interested in tailored support? Complete this form to connect with a CHCS team member and discuss your organization’s policy, program, operational, or implementation priorities.